By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Djibouti, 19 November 2025 — Djibouti has officially opened the 3rd Africa Forum on Strengthening the Health Products Supply Chain (FARCAPS), a continental gathering focused on improving how African countries procure, store and distribute essential medical supplies.
The three-day meeting, held from 18–20 November, has drawn close to 300 delegates — including health officials, technical experts, donors and representatives from around 20 African states.
The forum was opened by Djibouti’s Minister of Health, Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, who was joined by regional and international experts.
The minister said the forum provides an important platform for aligning African efforts to reinforce health-supply systems and reduce vulnerability during health emergencies.
He emphasised the need for African countries to build stronger, more independent supply and storage capacities for essential medicines.
“Our main objective is to strengthen and modernise the way we procure and stock medical products so that African countries can advance and respond more effectively,” Minister Abdilleh said.
The discussions in Djibouti come amid growing concerns over Africa’s heavy reliance on external supply chains.
More from Djibouti
A recent report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD, 2024) notes that “over 70 per cent of Africa’s medicines are imported.”
Officials and experts at the forum warned that this high dependency leaves African countries exposed during crises such as epidemics, floods or drought-related disease outbreaks, when global supply chains often slow down or fail.
Djibouti highlighted its modern logistics infrastructure — including ports, airports and the free-trade zone — as a key advantage that positions the country to support regional medical distribution.
Minister Abdilleh said Djibouti’s geographic location makes it a natural hub for supplying the IGAD region and beyond.
International organisations and donors attending the forum called for harmonised national policies, improved data-sharing and stronger coordination in procurement and warehousing to reduce costs and avoid delays.
The forum is expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at boosting national medical reserves, expanding African pharmaceutical production and upgrading digital tracking systems for health supplies.
